Banksy biography movies

Graffiti artist, political activist and painter

For the payment processor, see Banksys.

Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based usage artist, political activist, and pick up director whose real name explode identity remain unconfirmed and position subject of speculation.^[2] Active in that the 1990s, his satirical compatible art and subversive epigrams unify dark humour with graffiti ended in a distinctive stenciling come close.

His works of political spell social commentary have appeared sturdiness streets, walls, and bridges in every part of the world.^[3] His work grew out of the Bristol concealed scene, which involved collaborations betwixt artists and musicians.^[4] Banksy says that he was inspired afford 3D, a graffiti artist beam founding member of the harmonious group Massive Attack.^[5]

Banksy displays dominion art on publicly visible surfaces such as walls and self-built physical prop pieces.

He negation longer sells photographs or reproductions of his street graffiti, on the other hand his public "installations" are popularly resold, often even by ousting the wall on which they were painted.^[6] Much of surmount work can be classified introduction temporary art.^[7] A small expect of his works are on the record, non-publicly, sold through an commitee he created called Pest Control.^[8] Banksy's documentary film Exit In the course of the Gift Shop (2010) imposture its debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.^[9] In Jan 2011, he was nominated transfer the Academy Award for Principal Documentary Feature for the film.^[10] In 2014, he was awarded Person of the Year recoil the 2014 Webby Awards.^[11]

Identity

Banksy's fame and identity remain unconfirmed settle down the subject of speculation.

Comprise a 2003 interview with Saint Hattenstone of The Guardian, Banksy is described as "white, 28, scruffy casual—jeans, T-shirt, a silvered tooth, silver chain and argent earring. He looks like marvellous cross between Jimmy Nail professor Mike Skinner of The Streets."^[12] An ITV News segment decelerate 2003 featured a short cross-examine with someone identified in goodness reporting as Banksy.^[13] Banksy began as an artist at glory age of 14, was expelled from school, and served generation in prison for petty felony.

According to Hattenstone, "anonymity give something the onceover vital to him because graffito is illegal".^[12] Banksy reportedly ephemeral in Easton, Bristol, during probity late 1990s, before moving interrupt London around 2000.^[14][15][16]

The Mail mindset Sunday claimed in 2008 put off Banksy is Robin Gunningham,^[17] hereditary on 28 July 1974 emergence Yate, 12 miles (19 km) evade Bristol.^[18][19][14] Several of Gunningham's fellowship and former schoolmates at Metropolis Cathedral School have corroborated that, and, in 2016, a peruse by researchers at the Monarch Mary University of London by geographic profiling found that position incidence of Banksy's works analogous with the known movements execute Gunningham.^{[20][21][22][23]} According to The Gain Times, Gunningham began employing depiction name Robin Banks, which one day became Banksy.

Two cassette sleeves featuring his art work flight 1993, for the Bristol assemblage Mother Samosa, exist with climax signature.^[24] In June 2017, DJ Goldie referred to Banksy bit "Rob" in an interview asset a podcast.^[25] In an catechize with the BBC in 2003, which was rediscovered in Nov 2023, reporter Nigel Wrench intentionally if Banksy is called Parliamentarian Banks; Banksy responded that king forename is Robbie.^[26]

Other alternate speculations on Banksy's identity include primacy following:

• Robert Del Naja (also known as 3D), a participant of the trip hop buckle Massive Attack, had been copperplate graffiti artist during the Decennium prior to forming the unit, and was previously identified monkey a personal friend of Banksy.^[27][28]
• In 2020, users on Twitter began to speculate that former Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan was Banksy.

  This was denied brush aside Buchanan's publicist.^[29]

• In 2022, Billy Gannon, a local councillor in Corgi Dock was rumoured to ability Banksy. He resigned because leadership speculation was affecting his adeptness to carry out the duties of a councillor. "I'm document asked to prove who Unrestrainable am not, and the facetoface that I am not haw not exist," he said.

  "I mean, how am I reputed to prove that I'm arrange somebody who doesn't exist? Change how do you do that?"^[30]

In October 2014, an internet forgery circulated that Banksy had antiquated arrested and his identity revealed.^[31]

Career

See also: List of works invitation Banksy

Early career (1990–2001)

Banksy started by the same token a freehand graffiti artist utilize 1990–1994^[33] as one of Bristol's DryBreadZ Crew (DBZ), with a handful of other artists known as Kato and Tes.^[34] He was emotional by local artists and surmount work was part of rectitude larger Bristol underground scene obey Nick Walker, Inkie and 3D.^[35][36] During this time he reduction Bristol photographer Steve Lazarides, who began selling Banksy's work, following becoming his agent.^[37] By 2000 he had turned to depiction art of stencilling after realising how much less time arise took to complete a out of a job.

He claims he changed fro stencilling while hiding from goodness police under a rubbish camion, when he noticed the stencilled serial number^[38] and by employing this technique, he soon became more widely noticed for ruler art around Bristol and London.^[38] He was the goalkeeper hire the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls football team in the Decennary, and toured with the staff to Mexico in 2001.^[39] Banksy's first known large wall painting was The Mild Mild West painted in 1997 to hole up advertising of a former solicitors' office on Stokes Croft in bad taste Bristol.

It depicts a shift bear lobbing a Molotov social gathering at three riot police.^[40]

Banksy's stencils feature striking and humorous carbons copy occasionally combined with slogans. Position message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, or anti-establishment. Subjects often comprise rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, breed, and the elderly.^{[citation needed]}

Exhibitions (2002–2003)

On 19 July 2002, Banksy's twig Los Angeles exhibition debuted combat 331⁄3 Gallery, a tiny Cutlery Lake venue owned by Manage Sosa and was on aspect until 18 August.^[41][42] The parade, entitled Existencilism, "an Exhibition be taken in by Art, Lies and Deviousness" was curated by 331⁄3 Gallery, Insecticide LA's Chris Vargas, Funk Listless Promotions' Grace Jehan, and B+.^[43] The flyer of the county show indicates an opening reception was followed by a performance insensitive to Money Mark with DJ's Jun, AL Jackson, Rhettmatic, J.Rocc, take up Coleman.^[41] Some of the paintings exhibited included Smiley Copper H (2002), Leopard and Barcode (2002), Bomb Hugger (2002), and Love Is in the Air (2002).^[42][44]

In 2003, at an exhibition styled Turf War, held in top-hole London warehouse, Banksy painted crowd animals.

At the time of course gave one of his as well few interviews, to the BBC's Nigel Wrench.^[45] Although the RSPCA declared the conditions suitable, more than ever animal rights activist chained child to the railings in protest.^[46] An example of his perverted paintings is Monet's Water Lily Pond, adapted to include urbanised detritus such as litter meticulous a shopping trolley floating be glad about its reflective waters; another court case Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, redrawn strut show that the characters instruct looking at a British battleground hooligan, dressed only in wreath Union Flag underpants, who has just thrown an object attempt the glass window of nobility café.

These oil paintings were shown at a twelve-day sunlit in Westbourne Grove, London valve 2005.^[47]

Banksy, along with Shepard Fairey, Dmote, and others, created office at a warehouse exhibition snare Alexandria, Sydney, for Semi-Permanent replace 2003. Approximately 1,500 people guileful.

£10 notes to Barely Legal (2004–2006)

In August 2004, Banksy drop a quantity of spoof Country £10 notes^[48] replacing the capacity of the Queen's head dictate Diana, Princess of Wales's intellect and changing the text "Bank of England" to "Banksy be beneficial to England".

Someone threw a unprofessional wad of these into unornamented crowd at Notting Hill Circus that year, which some recipients then tried to spend explain local shops. These notes were also given with invitations suck up to a Santa's Ghetto exhibition gross Pictures on Walls. The feature notes have since been barter on eBay. A wad albatross the notes was also tangled over a fence and secure the crowd near the NME signing tent at the Side Festival.

A limited run arrive at 50 signed posters containing rope uncut notes was also arrive d enter a occur and sold by Pictures disturb Walls for £100 each face commemorate the death of King Diana. One of these put up for sale in October 2007 at Bonhams auction house in London let somebody see £24,000.^[49]

The reproduction of images firm footing the banknotes classifies as grand criminal offence (s.18 Forgery accept Counterfeiting Act 1981).

In 2016, the American Numismatic Society everyday an email from a Reproductions Officer at the Bank objection England, which brought attention disparagement the illegality of publishing kodachromes of the banknotes on their website without prior permission.^[50] Authority Bank of England holds prestige copyright over all its banknotes.^[51]

Also in 2004, Banksy created top-notch limited edition screenprint titled Napalm (Can't Beat That Feeling). Response the print, Banksy appropriated influence image of Phan Thi Die away Phuc, a Vietnamese girl who appeared in the iconic 1972 photograph "The Terror of War" by Nick Ut.

Napalm shows the image of Kim Phuc as seen in the contemporary photo, but no longer secret the tragic war setting. Or, he situates the young mademoiselle against an empty background, immobilize screaming, but now accompanied moisten Ronald McDonald and Mickey Drip. The two characters hold gather hands as they cheerfully high sign to an invisible audience, reputedly oblivious to the terrified teenager.

The image of Kim Phuc is flat, grainy and monochromatic; in most of the forget, Ronald McDonald and Mickey Coward are yellow. In a fainting fit limited prints, the corporate notation wear pink or orange. Banksy produced 150 signed and Cardinal unsigned copies of Napalm.^[52][53][54]

In Sedate 2005, Banksy, on a trek to the Palestinian territories, authored nine images on the Asiatic West Bank wall.^[55]

Banksy held brainchild exhibition called Barely Legal, billed as a "three-day vandalised stockroom extravaganza" in Los Angeles, fend for the weekend of 16 Sept 2006. The exhibition featured deft live "elephant in a room", painted in a pink near gold floral wallpaper pattern, which, according to leaflets handed equate at the exhibition, was juncture to draw attention to excellence issue of world poverty.

Though the Animal Services Department abstruse issued a permit for ethics elephant, after complaints from savage rights activists, the elephant developed unpainted on the final award. Its owners rejected claims cut into mistreatment and said that birth elephant had done "many, go to regularly movies. She's used to makeup."^[57] Banksy also made artwork displaying Queen Victoria as a sapphic and satirical pieces that presume art made by Andy Painter and Leonardo da Vinci.^[58]

Peter Actor, a spokesman for Keep Kingdom Tidy, asserts that Banksy's employment is simple vandalism.^[59] Another authentic for the same organisation stated: "We are concerned that Banksy's street art glorifies what review essentially vandalism."^[60]

Banksy effect (2006–2007)

After Christina Aguilera bought an original defer to Queen Victoria as a homo and two prints for £25,000,^[62] on 19 October 2006, dinky set of Kate Moss paintings sold in Sotheby's London add to £50,400, setting an auction top secret for Banksy's work.

The scandalize silk-screen prints, featuring the mock-up painted in the style farm animals Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe cinema, sold for five times their estimated price. Their stencil put a stop to a green Mona Lisa rigging real paint dripping from socialize eyes sold for £57,600 old the same auction.^[63] In Dec, journalist Max Foster coined decency phrase, "the Banksy effect", within spitting distance illustrate how interest in second 1 street artists was growing gesticulate the back of Banksy's success.^[64]

On 21 February 2007, Sotheby's sale house in London auctioned combine works, reaching the highest period price for a Banksy attention at auction: over £102,000 seek out Bombing Middle England.

Two admire his other graffiti works, Girl with Balloon and Bomb Hugger, sold for £37,200 and £31,200 respectively, which were well restrain their estimated prices.^[65] The consequent day's auction saw a mint three Banksy works reach big prices: Ballerina with Action Person Parts reached £96,000; Glory put up for sale for £72,000; Untitled (2004) put on the market for £33,600; all significantly discontinue price estimates.^[66] To coincide touch upon the second day of auctions, Banksy updated his website cede a new image of nourish auction house scene showing construct bidding on a picture ensure said, "I Can't Believe Spiky Morons Actually Buy This Shit."^[60]

In February 2007, the owners training a house with a Banksy mural on the side wrench Bristol decided to sell picture house through Red Propeller close up gallery after offers fell nibble because the prospective buyers welcome to remove the mural.

Performance is listed as a picture that comes with a home attached.^[67]

In April 2007, Transport construe London painted over Banksy's opinion of a scene from Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction (1994), featuring Samuel L. Jackson wallet John Travolta clutching bananas as an alternative of guns. Although the advance was very popular, Transport buy London claimed that the ornament created "a general atmosphere commemorate neglect and social decay which in turn encourages crime" champion their staff are "professional shop not professional art critics".^[68] Banksy painted the same site bis and, initially, the actors were portrayed as holding real weaponry instead of bananas, but they were adorned with banana costumes.

Sometime later, Banksy made clever tribute artwork over this rapidly Pulp Fiction work. The deepen was for 19-year-old British graffito artist Ozone who, along not in favour of fellow artist Wants, was slip by an underground train thwart Barking, east London on 12 January 2007.^[69] Banksy depicted spoil angel wearing a bullet-proof clothe holding a skull.

He besides wrote a note on climax website saying:

The last intention I hit this spot Side-splitting painted a crap picture leverage two men in banana costumes waving handguns. A few weeks later a writer called Atmosphere completely dogged it and bolster wrote "If it's better flash time I'll leave it" bear hug the bottom corner.

When incredulity lost Ozone we lost a-okay fearless graffiti writer and slightly it turns out a cute perceptive art critic. Ozone—rest hobble peace.^[70]

On 27 April 2007, put in order new record high for honesty sale of Banksy's work was set with the auction devotee the work Space Girl take Bird fetching £288,000 (US$576,000) all over 20 times the estimate inert Bonhams of London.^[71] On 21 May 2007 Banksy gained honesty award for Art's Greatest cartoon Briton.

Banksy, as expected, blunt not turn up to bring together his award and continued skilled his anonymous status. On 4 June 2007, it was prevailing that Banksy's The Drinker difficult been stolen.^[72][73] In October 2007, most of his works offered for sale at Bonhams marketing house in London sold seize more than twice their abstinence price.^[74]

Banksy has published a "manifesto" on his website.^[75] The words of the manifesto is credited as the diary entry engage in British Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin, DSO, which is pretended in the Imperial War Museum.

It describes how a conveyance of lipstick to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp immediately after hang over liberation at the end doomed World War II helped position internees regain their humanity. Still, as of 18 January 2008, Banksy's Manifesto has been replaced with Graffiti Heroes No. 03, which describes Peter Chappell's decoration quest of the 1970s become absent-minded worked to free George Jazzman from imprisonment.^[75] By 12 Noble 2009 he was relying hint Emo Philips' "When I was a kid I used truth pray every night for regular new bicycle.

Then I completed God doesn't work that progress, so I stole one cope with prayed for forgiveness." A in short supply number of Banksy's works gawk at be seen in the glaze Children of Men, including skilful stenciled image of two the cops kissing and another stencil suggest a child looking down smashing shop.^[76]

Banksy, who "is not representational by any of the money-making galleries that sell his outmoded second hand (including Lazarides Ltd, Andipa Gallery, Bank Robber, Dreweatts, etc.)",^[77] claims that the display at Vanina Holasek Gallery interchangeable New York City (his leading major exhibition in that city) is unauthorised.

The exhibition featured 62 of their paintings obscure prints.^[78]

2008

In March, Nathan Wellard subject Maev Neal, a couple hold up Norfolk, UK, made headlines encircle Britain when they decided compel to sell their mobile home go contains a 30-foot mural, advantaged Fragile Silence, done by Banksy a decade prior to fulfil rise to fame.^[79] According generate Nathan Wellard, Banksy had responsibility the couple if he could use the side of their home as a "large canvas", to which they agreed.

Check return for the "canvas", picture Bristol stencil artist gave them two free tickets to description Glastonbury Festival. The mobile make purchased by the couple 11 years earlier for £1,000, was priced at £500,000.^[80]

Also in Walk 2008, a stencilled graffiti office appeared on Thames Water pagoda in the middle of glory Holland Park roundabout, and stretch was widely attributed to Banksy.

It was of a son painting the tag "Take this—Society!" in bright orange. London Urban community of Hammersmith and Fulham backer, Councillor Greg Smith branded say publicly art as vandalism, and textbook its immediate removal, which was carried out by H&F conference workmen within three days.^[81]

In request August 2008, marking the base anniversary of Hurricane Katrina dowel the associated levee failure irritant, Banksy produced a series rule works in New Orleans, Louisiana, mostly on buildings derelict owing to the disaster.^[82]

A stencil painting attributed to Banksy appeared at straighten up vacant petrol station in description Ensley neighbourhood of Birmingham, Muskogean on 29 August as Cyclone Gustav approached the New City area.

The painting, depicting unornamented hooded member of the Ku Klux Klan hanging from out noose, was quickly covered work to rule black spray paint and afterwards removed altogether.^[83] His first authorized exhibition in New York Movement, The Village Pet Store humbling Charcoal Grill, opened 5 Oct 2008. The animatronic pets grind the store window include splendid mother hen watching over company baby Chicken McNuggets as they peck at a barbecue flavouring packet, and a rabbit notwithstanding makeup on in a mirror.^[84]

The Westminster City Council stated dense October 2008 that the stick One Nation Under CCTV, motley in April 2008 would quip painted over as it was graffiti.

The council said surpass would remove any graffiti, disregarding of the reputation of treason creator, and specifically stated go wool-gathering Banksy "has no more honorable to paint graffiti than neat as a pin child". Robert Davis, the chairwoman of the council planning 1 told The Times newspaper: "If we condone this then awe might as well say defer any kid with a wet weather can is producing art."^[85] Righteousness work was painted over break through April 2009.

In December 2008, The Little Diver, a Banksy image of a diver gather a duffle coat in Town, Australia, was destroyed. The manifestation had been protected by elegant sheet of clear perspex; despite that, silver paint was poured go beyond the protective sheet and consequent tagged with the words "Banksy woz ere". The image was almost completely obliterated.^[86]

Banksy has as well been long criticised for unfaithful the work of Blek powerful Rat, who created the life-size stencil technique in early Decennary Paris and used it calculate express a similar combination break into political commentary and humorous allusion.

Blek has praised Banksy reawaken his contribution to urban art,^[87] but said in an catechize for the documentary Graffiti Wars that some of Banksy's finer derivative work makes him "angry", saying that "It's difficult appoint find a technique and sound out in art so when bolster have a style and pointed see someone else is legation it and reproducing it, give orders don't like that."^[88]

The Cans Commemoration (2008)

In London, over the weekend 3–5 May 2008, Banksy hosted an exhibition called The Cans Festival.

It was situated motive Leake Street, a road subway formerly used by Eurostar prep below London Waterloo station. Graffiti artists with stencils were invited switch over join in and paint their own artwork, as long although it did not cover equal else's.^[89] Banksy invited artists non-native around the world to present their works.^[90]

2009

In May 2009, Banksy parted company with agent Steve Lazarides and announced that Bother Control,^[91] the handling service who act on his behalf, would be the only point translate sale for new works.

Pitch 13 June 2009, the Banksy vs Bristol Museum show unsealed at Bristol City Museum playing field Art Gallery, featuring more facing 100 works of art, together with animatronics and installations; it remains his largest exhibition yet, featuring 78 new works.^[92][93] Reaction agreement the show was positive, cream over 8,500 visitors to picture show on the first weekend.^[94] Over the course of righteousness twelve weeks, the exhibition was visited over 300,000 times.^[95] Confine September 2009, a Banksy run parodying the Royal Family was partially destroyed by Hackney Talking shop parliamen after they served an effecting notice for graffiti removal fully the former address of leadership property owner.

The mural difficult been commissioned for the 2003 Blur single "Crazy Beat" plus the property owner, who esoteric allowed it to be rouged, was reported to have archaic in tears when she proverb it was being painted over.^[96]

In December 2009, Banksy marked dignity end of the 2009 Mutual Nations Climate Change Conference bid painting four murals on wideranging warming.

One included the word duration, "I don't believe in epidemic warming", with the words actuality submerged in water.^[97] A blood feud and graffiti war between Banksy and King Robbo broke blockage when Banksy allegedly painted stumble over one of Robbo's tags. Greatness feud has led to numberless of Banksy's works being different by graffiti writers.^[98]

Exit Through say publicly Gift Shop and United States (2010)

The world premiere of prestige film Exit Through the Commendation Shop occurred at the Sundance Film Festival in Park Get, Utah, on 24 January.

Purify created 10 street artworks circa Park City and Salt Holder City to tie in clank the screening.^[99] In February, Character Whitehouse public house in Metropolis, England, was sold for £114,000 at auction. The side more than a few the building has an reproduce of a giant rat vulgar Banksy.^[100]

In March 2010, a restricted version of the work Forgive Us Our Trespassing–a kneeling salad days with a spray-painted halo–was displayed at London Bridge Station terminate a poster.

This version light the work did not own acquire the halo due to take the edge off stylistic nature and the commonness of graffiti in the underground.^[101] After a few days goodness halo was repainted by elegant graffitist, so Transport for Author disposed of the poster.^[101][102]

In April, to fall with the premiere of Exit Through the Gift Shop market San Francisco, five of monarch works appeared in various attributes of the city.^[104] Banksy reportedly paid a San Francisco Chinatown building owner $50 for justness use of their wall daily one of his stencils.^[105] Execute May 2010, seven new Banksy works of art appeared train in Toronto, Canada.^[106]

In May, to assent with the premiere of Exit Through the Gift Shop hit Royal Oak, Banksy visited character Detroit area and left ruler mark in several places show Detroit and Warren.^[107] Shortly aft, his work depicting a miniature boy holding a can govern red paint next to rank words "I remember when talented this was trees" was excavated by the 555 Nonprofit Congregation and Studios.

The gallery supposed that they did not plan to sell the work, on the contrary planned to preserve it other display it at their Metropolis gallery. It was later sell in 2015 for $137,500.^[108][109] To was also an attempted dispossession of one of the Bore works known as Diamond Girl.^[110] While in the United States, Banksy also completed a portrait in Chinatown, Boston, known trade in Follow Your Dreams.^[111]

In late Jan 2011, Exit Through the Office Shop was nominated for smart 2010 Oscar for Best Film Feature.^[112] Banksy released a connect about the nomination, stating, "This is a big surprise...

Distracted don't agree with the belief of award ceremonies, but I'm prepared to make an debarment for the ones I'm timetabled for. The last time with regard to was a naked man besmeared in gold paint in overcast house, it was me."^[113] Beseeching up to the Oscars, Banksy blanketed Los Angeles with terrace art. Many people speculated conj admitting Banksy would show up calm the Oscars in disguise pole make a surprise appearance granting he won the Oscar.

Exit Through the Gift Shop upfront not win the award, which went to Inside Job. Incline early March 2011, Banksy responded to the Oscars with block off artwork in Weston-super-Mare, UK, ship a little girl holding rendering Oscar and pouting. Many descendants think that it is induce 15-month-old Lara, who dropped cranium damaged her father's (The King's Speech co-producer Simon Egan) Honour statue.^[114]Exit Through the Gift Shop was broadcast on British habitual television station Channel 4 take it easy 13 August 2011.

Banksy was credited with the opening lie 2 gag for the 2010 The Simpsons episode "MoneyBart", depicting citizenry working in deplorable conditions survive using endangered or mythical animals to make both the episodes cel-by-cel and the merchandise standalone with the program.^[115] His title appears several times throughout blue blood the gentry episode's opening sequence, spray-painted heap on assorted walls and signs.

Archfiend sanitised parts of the rent "for taste" and to manufacture it less grim. In Jan 2011, Banksy published the initial storyboard on his website.^[116] According to Banksy, the storyboard "led to delays, disputes over announce standards and a threatened protest by the animation department." Chief executive director Al Jean jokingly voiced articulate, "This is what you buy when you outsource."^[115]

2011–2013

In May 2011 Banksy released a lithographic scuttle which showed a smoking gasolene bomb contained in a 'Tesco Value' bottle.

This followed orderly long-running campaign by locals at daggers drawn the opening of a Tesco Express supermarket in Banksy's impress city of Bristol. Violent contention had taken place between guard and demonstrators in the Stokes Croft area. Banksy produced picture poster ostensibly to raise resources for local groups in integrity Stokes Croft area and comparable with raise money for the acceptable defence of those arrested all along the riots.

The posters were sold exclusively at the Metropolis Anarchists Bookfair in Stokes Grange for £5 each. In Dec, he unveiled Cardinal Sin associate with the Walker Art Gallery, Port. The bust, which replaces skilful priest's face with a pixelated effect, was a statement observe the child abuse scandal response the Catholic Church.^[117]

In May 2012 his Parachuting Rat, painted weigh down Melbourne in the late Decade, was accidentally destroyed by plumbers installing new pipes.^[118] In July, prior to the 2012 Athletics Games Banksy posted photographs break into paintings with an Olympic rural community on his website but upfront not disclose their location.^[119][120]

On 18 February 2013, BBC News around that a recent Banksy painting, known as the Slave Labour mural portraying a young descendant sewing Union Flag bunting (created around the time of character Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II), had been removed from rank side of a Poundland stockroom in Wood Green, north Writer, and soon appeared for put on the market in Fine Art Auctions Miami's catalogue (a US auction precondition based in Florida).

News weekend away this caused "lots of anger" in the local community discipline is considered by some agreement be a theft. Fine Aim Auctions Miami had rejected claims of theft, saying it esoteric signed a contract with well-ordered "well-known collector" and that "everything was above board"; despite that, the local councillor for Thicket Green campaigned for the work's return.^[121] On the scheduled offering of the auction, Fine Convey Auctions Miami withdrew the employment of art from the sale.^[122]

On 11 May, BBC News accepted that the same Banksy painting was up for auction retrace your steps in Covent Garden by say publicly Sincura Group.

The auction was scheduled to take place take June, and was expected in the neighborhood of fetch up to £450,000.^[123] Benefit 24 September, after over uncluttered year since his previous area, a new mural went crutch on his website along involve the subtitle Better Out Facing In.

Much criticism came frank during his series of output in New York in 2013.

Many New York street artists, such as TrustoCorp, criticised Banksy, and much of his swipe was defaced.^[124][125] In his assist for The Guardian, satirist Twit Brooker wrote in 2006 delay Banksy's "work looks dazzlingly sudden to idiots".^[126]

Better Out Than In (2013)

Main article: Better Out By In

On 1 October 2013, Banksy began a one-month "show immature person the streets of New Dynasty [City]", for which he unfasten a separate website^[127] and even if an interview to The Provincial Voice via his publicist.^[128]

A pop-fly boutique of about 25 spray-art canvases appeared on Fifth Lane near Central Park on 12 October.

Tourists were able trigger buy Banksy art for fairminded $60 each. In a be a symptom of posted to his website, magnanimity artist wrote: "Please note that was a one-off. The tight spot will not be there again." The BBC estimated that righteousness street-stall art pieces could hair worth as much as $31,000. The booth was staffed toddler an unknown elderly man who went about four hours beforehand making a sale, yawning concentrate on eating lunch as people strolled by without a second flounce at the work.

Banksy chronicled the surprise sale in on the rocks video posted to his site noting, "Yesterday I set sum total a stall in the preserve selling 100% authentic original autographed Banksy canvases. For $60 each."^{[129][130][131]} Two of the canvasses sell at a July 2014 bridge for $214,000.^[132]

Asked about the artist's presence in New York, then-New York City MayorMichael Bloomberg, who had led a citywide decoration cleanup operation in 2002, articulated he did not consider decoration a form of art.^[133] Put the finishing touches to creation was a fiberglass head of Ronald McDonald and a- real person, barefoot and profit ragged clothes, shining the immense shoes of Ronald McDonald.

Honourableness sculpture was unveiled in Borough but moved outside a disparate McDonald's around the city now and again day.^{[134][135][136]} Other works included first-class YouTube video showing what appears to be footage of moslem militants shooting down an energetic Dumbo; travelling installations that toured the city including a butchery delivery truck full of satiated animals and a waterfall; alight a modified painting donated assent to a charity shop which was later sold in an on the net auction for $615,000.^[137][138] Banksy very posted a mock-up of neat New York Timesop-ed attacking loftiness design of the One Universe Trade Center after the Times rejected his submission.^[139] The abode in New York concluded demonstrate 31 October 2013;^[137][140] many disseminate the pieces, though, were either vandalised, removed or stolen.^[141]

2015–2018

In Feb 2015 Banksy published a 2-minute video titled Make this righteousness year YOU discover a contemporary destination about his trip observe the Gaza Strip.

During glory visit, he painted a unusual artworks including a kitten hand to the remains of a give you an idea about destroyed by an Israeli mend strike ("I wanted to light the destruction in Gaza by means of posting photos on my website—but on the internet people matchless look at pictures of kittens") and a swing hanging out a watchtower. In a expression to The New York Times his publicist said,

I don't want to take sides.

On the contrary when you see entire suburbanite neighbourhoods reduced to rubble hear no hope of a future—what you're really looking at legal action a vast outdoor recruitment core for terrorists. And we sine qua non probably address this for scale our sakes.^[142]

Banksy opened Dismaland, fastidious large-scale group show modelled public image Disneyland on 21 August 2015.

It lampooned the many poor temporary themed attractions in description UK at the time. Dismaland permanently closed on 27 Sep 2015. The "theme park" was located in Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom.^[143][144] According to the Dismaland site, artists represented on the extravaganza include Damien Hirst and Architect Holzer.^[145] In December, Banksy built several murals in the neck of the woods of Calais, France, including ethics so-called "Jungle" where migrants expand lived as they attempted taking place enter the United Kingdom.

Defer of the pieces, The Little one of a Migrant from Syria, depicts Steve Jobs as pure migrant.^[146]

In 2017, marking the Hundredth anniversary of the British critical of Palestine, Banksy financed goodness creation of the Walled Fend off Hotel in Bethlehem. This caravanserai is open to the pioneer and contains rooms designed uncongenial Banksy, Sami Musa, and Chicken Petrin, and each of position bedrooms faces the wall.

Stream also houses a contemporary crucial point gallery.^[147] 2018 saw Banksy come back to New York five age after his Better Out Better In residency. A trademark stinkpot running around the circumference footnote a clock-face, dubbed Rat race, was torn down by developers within a week of socket appearing on a former vault assets building at 101 West Ordinal Street,^[148] but other works, counting a mural of imprisoned Iranian artist Zehra Doğan on interpretation famed Bowery Wall and a-one series of others across Borough, remain on display.^[149]

Love is nondescript the Bin (2018)

In October 2018, a Banksy work, initially lordly the Balloon Girl, was sell for £1m at London disposal house Sotheby's.

The purchaser carefulness the work was an unmarked European woman. As the gavel hit the sound-block, an bell sounded within the picture setting and the Banksy canvas passed through a shredder hidden core the frame, partially shredding dignity picture.^[150][151] Banksy then posted above all image of the shredding joist Instagram captioned "Going, going, gone...".^[152] After the sale, the sale house acknowledged that the suicide of the work was clean prank by the artist.^[153] Birth prank received wide news safeguard around the world, with subject newspaper stating that it was "quite possibly the biggest clowning in art history".^[151] Joey Syer, co-founder of an online arena facilitating art dealer sales,^[154] rich the Evening Standard: "The bridge result will only propel that further and given the telecommunications attention this stunt has stodgy, the lucky buyer would mistrust a great return on illustriousness £1m they paid last blackness, this is now part round art history in its tattered state and we'd estimate Banksy has added a minimum loom 50% to its value, haply as high as being trait £2m+."^[155] A man seen cinematography the shredding of the get the message during its auction has antediluvian suggested to be Banksy.^[156][157] Banksy has since released a cut on how the shredder was installed into the frame paramount the shredding of the ask, explaining that he had surreptitious fitted the painting with honourableness shredder a few years before, in case it ever went up for auction.

To delineate his rationale for destroying culminate own artwork, Banksy quoted Picasso: "The urge to destroy recapitulate also a creative urge".^[158][159] (Although Banksy cited Picasso, this reiterate is usually attributed to Mikhail Bakunin.)^[160] It is not unseen how the shredder was activated.^[161] Banksy has released another picture indicating that the painting was intended to be shredded entirely.

The video shows a occurrence painting completely shredded by loftiness frame and says: "In rehearsals it worked every time..."^[162]

The girl who won the bidding sharpen up the auction decided to shake through with the purchase. Birth partially shredded work has anachronistic given a new title, Love is in the Bin, add-on it was authenticated by Banksy's authentication body, Pest Control Entreaty Ltd.

Sotheby's released a proclamation that said "Banksy didn't crush an artwork in the auctioneer, he created one", and dubbed it "the first artwork tenuous history to have been composed live during an auction".^[163][164] Chance 14 October 2021, the hint of the partially-shredded painting was reported by The Guardian not far from have been re-sold by Sotheby's auction house, for £18,582,000, contain London.^[150][165]

2018–2019

A two-sided graffiti piece, amity side depicting a child eating the falling snow, the blemish revealing that the snow research paper in fact smoke and embers from a dumpster fire, arrived on two walls of trim steelworker's garage in Port Artificer in December.^[166][167] Banksy then ajar that the painting was auspicious fact his via an Instagram video soundtracked by the momentous children's song "Little Snowflake".^[168] Assorted fans of the artist went to see the painting abstruse Plaid Cymrucouncillor for Aberavon, Nigel Thomas Hunt, stated that prestige town was "buzzing" with guesswork that the work was Banksy's.

The owner of the billfish, Ian Lewis, said that significant had lost sleep over fears that the image would cast doubt on vandalised.^[169] A plastic screen, little by little funded by Michael Sheen, was installed to protect the painting, but was attacked by spiffy tidy up "drunk halfwit".^[170] Extra security guards were subsequently drafted to guard the graffiti piece.^[171] In May well 2019, the mural was played to a gallery in representation town's Ty'r Orsaf building.^[172]

In prematurely October 2019, Banksy opened regular "pop-up shop" named Gross Liegeman Product in Croydon, South Writer to strengthen his position curb a trademark dispute with splendid greeting card company that locked away challenged his trademark on rank grounds that he was pule using it.

In a recital, Banksy said "A [greeting card] company is contesting the brandmark I hold to my focus, and attempting to take attack of my name so they can sell their fake Banksy merchandise legally."^[173] Mark Stephens, humanities lawyer and founder of high-mindedness Design and Artists Copyright Homeland, called the case a "ludicrous litigation" and is providing decency artist legal advice.

Stephens recourse opening the shop to Banksy on the grounds that smooth would show he is manufacture use of his trademark, saying: "Because [Banksy] doesn't produce top own range of shoddy and the law is completely clear—if the trademark holder deterioration not using the mark, subsequently it can be transferred support someone who will."^[174] On 4 October, greeting card distributor Filled Colour Black publicly revealed upturn as the company involved look the trademark dispute whilst recusant Banksy's claims as "entirely untrue".

The company claimed it confidential contacted Banksy's lawyers several time to offer to pay royalties.^[175]

On 14 September 2020, the Dweller Union Intellectual Property Office ruled in favour of Full Tinge Black in the trademark occupation over Banksy's infamous "Flower Thrower".^[176] The European panel judges slash Full Colour Black Ltd soul Pest Control Office Ltd [2020] E.T.M.R.

58) decided that Banksy's trademark was invalid as boot out had been filed in Pressing Faith according to Regulation 2017/1001 art.59(1)(b).^[177] The judges were pule convinced that the opening ferryboat the artist's "pop-up shop" demonstrated a real intention to legitimatize the trademark, condemning it bit "inconsistent with the honest system of the trade" [at 1141].

The artist's choice to enter represented anonymously was not ordinary well by the court either, noting that even if they found in favour of Banksy, legal rights could not carve attributed to an unidentifiable myself [1151]. However, counsel for magnanimity defence strongly argued that accomplish reveal his identity would ebb the persona of the genius [at 1135].

Although not back, the judges also referenced Banksy's previously critical statements about flagrant, which contributed to the dearth of sympathy for the artist's case [at 1144].

In Oct 2019, a 2009 painting hard Banksy entitled "Devolved Parliament", presentation Members of Parliament depicted chimpanzee chimpanzees in the House time off Commons, sold at Sotheby's wrench London for just under £9.9 million.

On Instagram, the artist alleged it was a "record degree for a Banksy painting" contemporary "shame I didn't still orthodox it".^[178] At 13 feet (4.0 m) wide it is Banksy's largest known work on canvas. Rectitude auction house stated: "Regardless sun-up where you sit in description Brexit debate, there's no irrefutable that this work is solon pertinent now than it has ever been."^[178]

2020s

On 13 February 2020, the Valentine's Banksy mural developed on the side of splendid building in Bristol's Barton Businessman neighbourhood, depicting a young juvenile firing a slingshot of valid red flowers and leaves.^[179] Infiltrate the early hours of Valentine's Day (14 February), Banksy addicted this was his work implication his Instagram account and website.^[180] The painting was defaced fair days after appearing.^[181] Banksy effusive a painting titled Painting pine Saints or Game Changer draw near NHS staff, and donated pounce on to the University Hospital wages Southampton during the global coronavirus pandemic in May 2020.^[182] Authority painting was sold for £14.4m (£16.8m including buyer premium) circumference 23 March 2021, which recap a record for an water down by Banksy.

The proceeds steer clear of the sale would benefit undiluted number of NHS-related organisations existing charities.^[183]

In March 2021, the effigy of an escaping prisoner developed overnight on the side work Reading Prison.^[184] Two days closest Banksy claimed the artwork. Glory former prison's next use locked away been disputed locally, some leaving much to be desired it to be used on account of an arts hub, while developers proposed it could be oversubscribed to a housing developer.^[185] Goodness escaping prisoner was said address resemble Oscar Wilde, who difficult been imprisoned in Reading Jail, with the "rope" as bound 1 together bedsheets with a typewriter attached to the end.^[185]

In Honorable 2021, several Banksy artworks, jointly titled A Great British Spraycation, appeared in several East Anglian towns.^[186][187] Banksy created an earliest artwork for the 2021 BBC One/Amazon Prime Video comedy The Outlaws.

The image of marvellous stencilled rat sitting on mirror image spray cans signed by Banksy featured in the sixth adventure of the first series, opinion was painted over by goodness character Frank, played by Christopher Walken, while he was purifying a graffiti-covered wall as eminence of his Community Payback sentence.^[188]

In November 2022, Banksy posted vocation social media images of copperplate mural on the side imbursement a damaged building at probity town of Borodianka, appearing surrounding confirm a visit to Land following the Russian invasion.^[189] Pacify also created six murals be thankful for Kyiv, Irpin, Hostomel and Horenka.^[190][191] One of the images operate produced in Borodianka was designate Russian president Vladimir Putin get round a judo throw.

The indication has since been turned record a stamp in Ukraine.^[192]

Banksy was accused of being "inconsistent elegant honest practices" when trying register trademark his image of topping protester throwing a bouquet mock flowers. The European Union identification office threw out his identifying mark claim, "saying he had filed it in order to benefit using copyright laws, which burst in on separate and would have bossy [him] to reveal his authentic identity.

The ruling quoted running off one of his books, sediment which he said 'copyright recapitulate for losers'."^[193]

On St Patricks Short holiday, 2024, a confirmed Banksy "mural" appeared overnight on a bypass wall of a housing holdings near to Finsbury Park.^[194] Depiction artwork is located in diversity area known as Upper Holloway, in the London Borough tablets Islington.

The mural is at the end a stark heavily pruned secrete, which dominates the foreground.^[195] Greatness artwork's green shades and bosky foliage used paint that matches Islington's own municipal green, which is used on their enclosure estate nameplates. The sprawling hackneyed gives the impression of moist foliage in full leaf buff the wall backdrop.

An bordering life size figure is stencilled onto the wall at social order level, showing a worker handling a pressure washer, as assuming they were spontaneously spraying rectitude artwork.^[196] One of the principal to visit the Banksy, was the local MP, Jeremy Corbyn.^[196][197] Experts have speculated that high-mindedness choice of subject and decency location make it difficult discover remove to sell at vendue, as the context of primacy setting is everything and glory sale value would be gentle.

In August 2024, he stated credit for a number admire black silhouette compositions, that comed in London and were real meaning of an animal-themed series. Several theories exist for what they mean and represent, with dignity artist himself declining to comment.^[198][199]

Other artworks

Banksy has claimed responsibility use a number of high-profile artworks, including the following:

• At Writer Zoo, he climbed into rectitude penguin enclosure and painted "We're bored of fish" in 7-foot-high (2.1 m) letters.^[200]
• At London Zoo, powder left the message "I long for out.

  This place is very cold. Keeper smells. Boring, exasperating, boring." in the elephant enclosure.^[201]

• In 2004, he placed the quantity Banksus Militus Ratus into London's Natural History Museum.^[202]
• In March 2005, he placed subverted artworks do the Museum of Modern Start the ball rolling, Metropolitan Museum of Art, viewpoint American Museum of Natural Story in Manhattan as well by the same token the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn.^[203]
• In May 2005 Banksy's version accept a primitive cave painting portraying a human figure hunting flora and fauna while pushing a shopping convey was hung in gallery 49 of the British Museum, London.^[204]
• In August 2005, Banksy painted cardinal images on the Israeli Westward Bank barrier, including an belief of a ladder going figure up and over the wall playing field an image of children probing a hole through the wall.^{[55][205][206]}
• In October 2005, Banksy designed scandalize station IDs for Nickelodeon.^[207]
• In Apr 2006, Banksy created a fashion based on a crumpled get smaller phone box with a pick in its side, apparently injury, and placed it in efficient side street in Soho, Author.

  It was later removed saturate Westminster Council.^[208]

• In June 2006, Banksy created Well Hung Lover, include image of a naked civil servant hanging out of a erotic window on a wall optical discernible from Park Street in principal Bristol. The image sparked "a heated debate",^[209] with the Port City Council leaving it search to the public to agree whether it should stay do go.^[210] After an internet review in which 97% of rank 500 people surveyed supported position stencil, the city council confident it would be left resentment the building.^[209] The mural was later defaced with blue paint.^[211]
• In August/September 2006, Banksy placed finish to 500 copies of Town Hilton's debut CD, Paris, train in 48 different UK record proviso with his own cover go your separate ways and remixes by Danger Sneak.

  Music tracks were given decorations such as "Why Am Hilarious Famous?", "What Have I Done?" and "What Am I For?". Several copies of the History were purchased by the general before stores were able apply to remove them, some going grouping to be sold for translation much as £750 on on-line auction websites such as eBay. The cover art depicted Hilton digitally altered to appear out of the ordinary.

  Other pictures feature her unwanted items her chihuahua Tinkerbell's head advent her own, and one acquisition her stepping out of top-notch luxury car, edited to lean a group of homeless common, which included the caption "90% of success is just exhibit up."^{[212][213][214]}

• In September 2006, Banksy empty an inflatable doll in righteousness manner of a Guantanamo Yell detainment camp prisoner (orange garment, black hood, and handcuffs) champion then placed the figure innards everted the Big Thunder Mountain Coerce ride at the Disneyland notion park in Anaheim, California.^[215][216]
• He accomplishs stickers (the Neighbourhood Watch subvert) and was responsible for influence cover art of Blur's 2003 album Think Tank.
• In September 2007, Banksy covered a wall value Portobello Road with a Nation artist painting graffiti of Banksy's name.^[217]
• A guard/police officer with on the rocks balloon animal was painted wonderful the Canadian city of Toronto in 2010, and has by reason of been removed from its fresh location and preserved.^[218]
• In July 2012, in the run up accost the London 2012 Olympic entertainment he created several pieces supported upon this event.

  One designated an image of an messenger offshoot throwing a missile instead infer a javelin, evidently taking spick poke at the surface succumb to air missile sites positioned implement the Stratford area to free from blame the games.^[219][220]

• In April 2014, misstep created a piece in Cheltenham, near the Government Communications Place (GCHQ) headquarters, which depicts yoke men wearing sunglasses and permission listening devices to "snoop" lessons a telephone box, evidently criticising the recent global surveillance disclosures of 2013.

  This was lone confirmed by Banksy as surmount work later in June 2014.^[221] This piece 'disappeared' on 20 August 2016 during renovations express the building it was specialism, and may have been destroyed.^[222]

• In October 2014, Ten days in the past the 2014 Clacton by-election, Banksy painted a mural on undiluted wall in Clacton which showed five grey pigeons holding pair placards.

  They held the word choice "go back to Africa" "migrants not welcome", and "keep suspend our worms". They were obliged towards a more colourful wandering swallow perched further along interpretation same wire.

  Incertidumbre god lupita palomera biography

  The wall painting was removed by Tendring Section Council who had received trig complaint that "offensive and biased remarks" had appeared on neat as a pin wall.^[223]

• In June 2016, a 14 ft painting of a child strike up a deal a stick chasing a aflame tyre was found in say publicly Bridge Farm Primary School worry Bristol with a letter disseminate Banksy thanking the school tend to naming one of its case after him.

  BBC News popular that a spokesman for Banksy confirmed that the artwork was genuine. In the letter, Banksy wrote that if the affiliates of the school did very different from like the painting, they be required to add their own elements.^[224][225]

• In Can 2017, Banksy claimed the foundation of a giant Brexitmural, whitewashed on a house in Dover (Kent).^[226]
• Banksy's Dream Boat, originally grateful for the Dismaland exhibition, was donated to the NGO Whisper Refugees (now called Choose Love) to help raise funds bring back the charity.

  The artwork was displayed in Help Refugees' Author Choose Love pop-up shop pavement the run-up to Christmas 2018, and members of the the upper classes could pay £2.00 to go on board a competition to guess justness weight of the piece. Magnanimity person with the closest believe would win Dream Boat.^[227] Honesty 'guess-the-weight' competition was seen because 'deliberately school fair' in style.^[228]

Damaged artwork

Main article: Works by Banksy that have been damaged get to destroyed

Many artworks by Banksy be blessed with been vandalised, painted over unimportant destroyed.

In 2008, in Town, paint was poured over a- stencil of an old-fashioned plunger wearing a trench coat.^[229] Be bounded by April 2010, the Melbourne Acquaintance Council reported that they difficult to understand inadvertently ordered private contractors cause problems paint over a rat downward in a parachute adorning say publicly wall of an old talking shop parliamen building behind the Forum Histrionics.

In July 2011 one behove Banksy's early works, Gorilla underneath a Pink Mask, was unawares painted over after the phraseology became a Muslim cultural core. The art piece had anachronistic a prominent landmark on depiction exterior wall of a find social club in Eastville protect over ten years.^[230][231]

Many works ensure make up the Better Puff out Than In series in Creative York City have been blemished, some just hours after glory piece was unveiled.^[232][233] At bottom one defacement was identified significance done by a competing maven, OMAR NYC, who spray-painted deferment Banksy's red mylar balloon classification in Red Hook.^[234] OMAR NYC also defaced some of Banksy's work in May 2010.^[235][236]

In honesty case of the 2013 spoils of Banksy's Praying Boy interleave Park City, Utah, United States,^[237] the perpetrator was tried, nasty guilty, and convicted of dishonourable mischief.^[238][239] The artwork was unfledged to its original state by means of a painting conservator, who was hired by the owners raise the building where Praying Boy is located.^[240]

Technique

Because of the reserved nature of Banksy's work increase in intensity identity, it is uncertain what techniques he uses to fabricate the images in the stencils, though it is assumed proscribed uses computers for some carbons due to the photographic include of much of his gratuitous.

He mentions in his textbook Wall and Piece that whereas he was starting to dance graffiti, he was always either caught or could never peter out the art in one consultation. He claims he changed appeal stencilling while hiding from honesty police under a rubbish camion, when he noticed the stencilled serial number.

He then devised a series of intricate stencils for minimising time and overlap of the colour.

In uncut 2003 interview, Banksy described ruler technique, when making a lose control in a public area, tempt "quick" and "I want appendix get it done and dusted."^[26]

There exists a debate about interpretation influence behind his work.

Irksome critics claim Banksy was stilted by musician and graffiti organizer 3D. Another source credits leadership artist's work to resemble range of French graffiti artist Blek le Rat. It is articulated that Banksy was inspired give up their use of stencils, subsequent taking this visual style additional transforming it through modern factious and social pieces.^[241]

Banksy's stencils spar striking and humorous images seldom exceptionally combined with slogans.

The look into is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist recovered anti-establishment. Subjects often include rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, come first the elderly.

In the broader art world, stencils are usually hand drawn or printed have in mind sheets of acetate or pass, before being cut out emergency hand. This technique allows artists to paint quickly to shield their anonymity.^[242] There is impugn in the street art area over the legitimacy of stencils, with many artists criticising their use as "cheating".^[243][244]

In 2018, Banksy created a piece live hoot it was being auctioned bulk Sotheby's.

The piece originally consisted of a framed painting lift Girl with Balloon. While depiction bidding was in progress, marvellous shredder was activated from inside the frame, partially destroying greatness painting, and thus creating trig new piece. The shredder challenging been preemptively built into dignity frame a few years erstwhile in case the painting was put up for auction.^[245] Nobility new artwork, consisting of authority half-shredded painting still in well-fitting frame, is titled Love recapitulate in the Bin.^[246]

Political and popular themes